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I started the music server experience with Pi2B and Volumio mserver software. To this I finaly added a high performance DAC cct. brd. which allows me to play DSD64 files. But I had shocking connectivity problems to the WebUI under Volumio. I continually lost connection to the Pi server under Volumio. Often I had to power down the Pi and restart it just to get a connection.

I am now using a Pi3B with Rune Audio software and the same high performance DAC. I have a perfect connection to the Pi3B at all times. Even after closing down my smart phone or IPad and opening sometime later, with a 5 second refresh, it is all back and upto the minute. To find where the issue was I loaded Rune onto my original Pi2B setup, with WiFi dongle (on the Pi3B WiFi is onboard), and found a equally, perfectly stable, connection. It appears Volumio is not as stable as Rune. What's more Rune is so much better set out and easier to use plus has a number of more features.

The moral of the story is; don't bother with Volumio. Also you don't need a Pi3B a Pi2 has more than a enough processing power for even DSD files. But with Pi3 and 2 being the same price, why would you get a 2 over a 3?

I've had the RuneAudio music player going on a Raspberry Pi 3 for 2 days now and it is doing great. The user interface (UI) is via any browser on the same local network, just like Volumio. The look, controls and playback are also very similar between the two players. Rune has more options and settings that one can choose from. Setup and controls are rather intuitive and simple.

Specifically for me, I am using a Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus (USB 2.0) and setup was essentially plug, select from drop down and play.

My network connection is via wifi and I have have no issues with playback thus far. Music is stored on a NAS. The NAS share automounts at boot.

The default software volume worked, but there is a note that software volume provides the worst playback. Like with Volumio, I could not get Hardware volume control to work, so I must assume this is a limitation of the external DAC which I guess is starting to show it's age. What I really liked about the RuneAudio software is that next to just about every option there is a brief explanation often citing pros and cons. With regards to volume control the software does note that using NO volume control on the player is best for sound quality. So I have turned off volume control through the player and use the physical volume on the DAC.

Way to go Gio (that rhymes). But as I have found when mixing hardware with a Pi sometimes you have to use Rune over Volumio or Volum over Rune.

With most software volumes if you are working it in the top 10% of the volume, or put another way, have the volume at 90% or more, Sound quality is probably not affected. It's when you bring the volume back to say 50% that bit stripping occurs.

I use a double plugin mains outlet with two USB charges to power my Pi3 in my main system. It has a 2.1A limit, more than enough. Possible improvement would be to use a fully linear PS with an ultra low noise regulator. I have the regs ($50 each) now I need to construct the PS.

Good info regarding regarding the volume control. Regarding power supply for the Raspberry Pi, the power conditioner I use has a front panel USB output that is from a regulated liner supply and that seems to work very well.

Today I finally got around to running a CAT6 cable through the floor and to the Pi3/RuneAudio music player. Over the wifi I would sometimes get wifi congestion if I was surfing at the same time (probably HD youtube cat videos) that would cause an annoying audio blip. Problem solved now. The rune software has been stable and flawless for me for over 1.5 years now with a Raspberry Pi 3B. This summer I hope to swap out the Cambridge Audio DAC and the Ashly variable crossover and replace them with a miniDSP 2X4 HD continuing to use RuneAudio as a digital media player.

I've not used Rune for quite a while but have stayed with MoOde. Moode sounds much better and is now upto release 4.2. This post is more about DACs. My main system has a DIY AK4495SEQ XMOS based large card. The card has multi regulators etc and only required a couple of transformers to get it going. USB input only.

On a second Pi system I used a HDMI audio ripper which played 24/192 without problems. But after hearing a friends Audiophonics ES9038 DAC HAT. I had to have one. I sold off the Pi2B and HDMI stripper to help pay for the far more expensive ES HAT.

The ES HAT comes with no mounting iron but some long 3mm bolts and nuts will make do. The big question is does the ES out perform the AK. I brought in some golden ears and long story short no it doesn't. His eval. is the AK sounded sweeter with a bigger soundstage. The ES 'tended to crush the sound stage. I do need two Pi(s); one in my main system and a temp one which is setup when I have to go headphones when the wife's home. Two Pi(s), no more no less and now a better temp setup with the ES HAT which really does sound excellent.

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